4 stars

A compelling account of Dukes v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. in which Featherstone documents the case and provides insight into some of the experiences of the women involved in the case as well as other Wal-Mart employees. Accounts range from sexist wage discrepancies to lack of advertising of job openings to derogatory language and sexual harassment.

This is a very readable book with a lot of information. Featherstone focuses on the case and the people involved, but also rounds out the text with related subject matter such as the role of consumer support in such cases, union involvement, and the benefits and limitations of class action suits.

I think Featherstone balanced the book well by focusing on Wal-Mart’s female employees, but also noting the low pay of many male employees who also do not make a living wage.

This book demonstrates how sexism and discrimination are still prevalent in society and the downside of big corporation’s control over communities.

Though the book was originally published in 2004, the messages are still important to society.

This book is well written with many examples of the discrimination female employees faced working for Wal-Mart. It is a powerful tale of people taking a stand against injustice.

Regardless of the eventual end of the appeal process in the Supreme Court in 2011, this book and the case itself raised a lot of awareness to the injustices still going on in this country. This book is an eye opening account of some of the discrimination and inequality of one of America’s biggest corporations.